Zink gives up OPOTA certification, won't face criminal charges

The investigation, which began Feb. 5, closed Monday after Zink signed a settlement with the two women who brought allegations against him, said Jill Del Greco, spokeswoman for the Ohio Attorney General's Office, which houses the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Former Police Chief David Zink will not face charges as a result of a criminal investigation into his conduct, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

The investigation, which began Feb. 5, closed Monday after Zink signed a settlement with the state, which was acting on behalf of the two women who brought allegations of inappropriate behavior against him, said Jill Del Greco, spokeswoman for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, which houses the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

The settlement states Zink admits to no guilt under the law and that the attorney general’s office will pursue no further legal action against him.

Terms of the settlement include:

• Zink agreed to retire within two weeks of the settlement.

• Zink agreed not to seek future employment with the department.

• Zink permanently surrendered his Ohio peace officer certification, rendering him unable to hold another law enforcement officer job in the state.

• Zink and the women involved agreed to have no contact with one another.

“We thought that this was the best resolution for the case as it was presented,” Del Greco said.

Zink, in a statement emailed to the Repository, said he agreed to sign the settlement because he wanted to put the case behind him, avoid costly litigation and keep his family from “continued negative media attention.”

“In my mind the agreement is no less than extortion, if you do not sign we will move forward with a case against you knowing it is wrong,” it reads.

Zink says he planned his retirement in late August as a result of the allegations being leveled against him. His last day as chief of police was Friday.

“I continue to maintain I have never committed any crimes or sexually harassed anyone,” he said in the statement. “I was never charged with a crime nor ever found guilty of any type of misconduct.”

Jackson Township officials offered no comment about the closing of the case because the administration was not involved in the BCI investigation.